ROFL, to the uninitiated I can understand why folks might think the E-brake depends on the existing system.
The point is to have a brake system independent of the normal, hydraulically actuated braking surfaces.
It's literally a cable that physically pulls the rear brakes against the drum, much like the brakes on your bicycle. Normal brakes are operated by forcing hydraulic fluid into a brake line, the force of which is multiplied greatly, which moves the brakes.
See sometimes brakes fail. Lines burst, seals fail, cylinders pop or are shot out after part failures, boosters get leaks and whatnot.
Since brakes save lives it is good to have a system that is much less likely to fail as a standby, thus the simple cable actuation which will stop your car even if you take the whole master cylinder out.
The point is to have a brake system independent of the normal, hydraulically actuated braking surfaces.
It's literally a cable that physically pulls the rear brakes against the drum, much like the brakes on your bicycle. Normal brakes are operated by forcing hydraulic fluid into a brake line, the force of which is multiplied greatly, which moves the brakes.
See sometimes brakes fail. Lines burst, seals fail, cylinders pop or are shot out after part failures, boosters get leaks and whatnot.
Since brakes save lives it is good to have a system that is much less likely to fail as a standby, thus the simple cable actuation which will stop your car even if you take the whole master cylinder out.